15 Answers

“Mental imagery” seems to be the most widely used term among people who study this phenomenon. As to how it works, this is a matter of much debate. Until recently, there has been a trend among many philosophers and scientists to even deny its existence (a position known as “iconophobia”). But cognitive psychologists now largely agree that it is a real phenomenon that deserves to be accounted for.

You won’t believe how convoluted the debate can get over the nature of such a common human experience. Take a look at this article on the subject from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but @Haleth seems to be asking about our mind’s ability to call up images without using the physical eye, as in daydreams and recalling past images, per her details. The “third eye”, Ajna and pure consciousness is something quite different

I agree with @thorninmud about “mental imagery” but, technically, it depends on your cultural beliefs and values. As others have brought up ..Chakra/Third Eye. Many people believe that visual mental imagery/consciousness is the sixth sense, Ajna chakra, Third Eye ..etc.

I’m not so sure, @PluckyDog. I think that people from cultures that actually work on “third eye chakra” development would be pretty surprised to hear it equated to picturing something in your head. When you read what’s written about the process of opening the third eye chakra, I can’t imagine a guru saying that it’s the same as, say, picturing the house you grew up in.

”Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but @Haleth seems to be asking about our mind’s ability to call up images without using the physical eye, as in daydreams and recalling past images, per her details. The “third eye”, Ajna and pure consciousness is something quite different”

@thorninmud That’s exactly what I meant. I just skimmed the Stanford article and it looks like a great resource, just the information I was looking for. I’m going to give it an in-depth read once my work week is over.

@troubleinharlem Thank you for posting that article, very interesting! I look forward to learning more.